Revision of the genus Xylomoia Staudinger (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), with descriptions of two new species

Seven species are included in the genus Xylomoia Staudinger, two of which are new: X. retinax sp.n. from the Novosibirsk area, Western Siberia, and from the Chelyabinsk area, southern Ural Mountains, and X. stangelmaieri sp.n. from Caorle, Venezia Giulia, on the Adriatic coast. A North American species, Chortodes didonea (Smith) comb.n., is removed from the genus. According to a cladistic analysis, the genus Xylomoia comprises one plesiomorphic species group, the chagnoni group, and two apomorphic groups: the graminea and strix groups. The latter are exclusively temperate Palaearctic. Xylomoia chagnoni (Barnes & McDunnough) is the only Nearctic species of the genus, and the loosely related X. apameaoides (Hacker) was recently described from Turkey. In geographical isolation, these two species have retained many ancestral features. In the more central area, the common ancestor of the graminea and strix groups has evolved into at least five species. The locality and rarity of the species of Xylomoia seemingly result from adaptation of the species to moist habitats, the larvae probably bore inside grass stems (the case of X. chagnoni ). What are called lock-and-key mechanisms may lead to the use of non-independent character states in a cladistic analysis; particularly in the case of homoplasy this kind of double-weighting may result in erroneous cladograms. In Xylomoia , deleting female lock-and-keys affected only the number of cladograms produced, whereas omitting the corresponding male characters had profound effects on the cladogram.     

Review of Indo-Pacific species of the scorpionfish genus Scorpaena (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae), with descriptions of two new species from the west coast of Australia

Ichthyological Research - A taxonomic review of Indo-Pacific species of the scorpionfish genus Scorpaena resulted in the recognition of 21 valid species (including 2 subspecies and 2 new species)...     

Tubificidae (oligochaeta) from the Ross Sea (Antarctica), with descriptions of one new genus and two new species

Three species,Torodrilus gelidus sp. nov. (subfamily Rhyacodrilinae),Rossidrilus terraenovae gen. et sp. nov. (Limnodriloidinae), and a second unnamed species of Limnodriloidinae, are reported from marine sediments in Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea. Torodrilus gelidus is distinguished fromT. lowryi Cook, 1970 by its setal pattern (with few exceptions, both anterior and posterior setae are single-pointed in sexually mature specimens ofT. gelidus) and the morphology of its male protuberances (the latter folded over a midventral bursa in segment XI).Rossidrilus terraenovae is characterized by large diverticula attached to the oesophagus in the posterior part of segment IX, unpaired male and spermathecal pores, heavily muscular and entally ciliated atrial ampullae, elongate prostatic pads, and a deep, unpaired and muscular, copulatory sac. It is the first species of its subfamily to be described from Antarctic waters.     

Revision of the genus Parasapyga Turner (Hymenoptera,Sapygidae), with the description of two new species

Two new species, Parasapyga boschi sp. n. from Vietnam and P. yvonnae sp. n. from Indonesia are described. Parasapyga walshae van der Vecht, 1940, is treated as a valid species instead of a subspecies of P. moelleri Turner, 1910. A key to the species of the genus is added and all species are illustrated.     

Heteroxiphia Saini & Singh (Hymenoptera, Xiphydriidae), a genus new to China with descriptions of two new species

Heteroxiphia Saini & Singh, 1987 is redescribed and Heteroxiphia sinicasp. n.and Heteroxiphia tenuipalpasp. n. from China are described. A key to three species is provided and a key for separation of Heteroxiphia, Trixiphidia Wei, 1999 and Yangixiphia Wei, 2002 is also provided.     

Nowickea (Phytolaccaceae), a new genus with two new species from Mexico

A new genus of Phytolaccaceae,Nowickea, includes two new species,N. xolocotzii andN. glabra, each known only from its type locality in the states of Jalisco and Morelos, Mexico, respectively.Nowickea exhibits close relationship withPhytolacca by a robust herbaceous growth habit, 7- to 10-carpellate ovary, carpels with terminal, basally connate styles, basal placentation, and fleshy fruits. It is distinguished by green, subequal, herbaceous, and often lanceolate tepals 3 to 12 mm long, ovary and fruit elevated on a well developed gynophore, obovoid or obpyriform fruits, and narrowly ellipsoid seeds.     

The genus Antillothrips Stannard, with descriptions of two new species (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae)

Abstract. The genus Antillothrips Stannard ( Elatea Faure, syn.n.) is redefined with a key to the ten species: australis sp.n.; exastis (Ananthakrishnan & Kudo) stat.n. comb.n.; cingulatus (Hood) (= Haplothrips (Hindsiana) sakimurai Moulton syn.n.; Xenothrips opacus Ananthakrishnan & Kudo syn.n.); graminellus Ananthakrishnan & Jagadish; hartwigi sp.n.; malabaricus (Ananthakrishnan); micropterus Pitkin; nayari (Ananthakrishnan); stannmdi (Faure) comb.n.; varius (Ananthakrishnan & Jagadish). Lectotypes are designated for opacus and exastis.     

A review of the pelagic ophidioid fish genus Brotulataenia with descriptions of two new species

An osteological study and a taxonomic diagnosis are presented for the mesopelagic, oviparous ophidioid fish genus Brotulataenia. Its relationships are probably with a large group of benthic deep-sea oviparous genera. Brotulataenia has been known previously from three North Atlantic specimens assigned to two species. The present study is based on 33 specimens from the North and South Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Indian Ocean, and placed in four species, two of which are described as new. Two species are excessively elongate and are interpreted as being derived forms; they are lighter in color than are the two short-bodied species and may live higher in the water column.     

Revision of the plant bug genus Xenocylapidius (Hemiptera,Heteroptera, Miridae,Cylapinae), with descriptions of five new species from Australia and New Caledonia

The genus Xenocylapidius Gorczyca, 1997 is revised. Five new species: Xenocylapidius acutipennis sp. n., Xenocylapidius ater sp. n., Xenocylapidius bimaculatus sp. n., Xenocylapidius gemellus sp. n., and Xenocylapidius rolandi sp. n. are described from Australia and New Caledonia. Illustrations of the male genitalia, color photographs of dorsal and lateral views of the adults of all species, and key to species of the genus Xenocylapidius are provided.     

Revision of the Antarctic genus Notaeolidia (Gastropoda, Nudibranchia), with a description of a new species

New material from the Atlantic sector of the Antarctic Ocean allows a revision of the Antarctic genus Notaeolidia Eliot, 1905. One new species (Notaeolidia schmekelae sp.n.) is described. N. depressa Eliot, 1905 and N. gigas Eliot, 1905, which arc poorly known, arc redescribed. N. rufopicta Thiele, 1912, N. robsoni Odhner, 1934, N. subgigas Odhner, 1944, N. alutacea Minichev, 1972 and N. flava Minichev, 1972 are synonymized with N. depressa. N. purpurea Eliot, 1905 is synonymized with N. gigas. The monogeneric family Notaeolidiidae Odhner, 1926. is characterized by the following autapomorphy: nephroproct in front of the genital apertures. Too little is known to elaborate the phylogenetic position of the family Notaeolidiidae within the cladobranch Nudibranchia.